Personal Profile Collections

Roderick Colin Jackson - Section 4

This section contains twenty-four photos pertaining to Roderick Jackson and the 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders) in Broughton, NS in early 1916.

Broughton is a community about 12 miles from Sydney, NS. It was first settled at the turn of the century as a planned mining town. Roads were constructed as were several large buildings including two hotels and the General Mining Office. There were also many lesser buildings built including several stores and churches, a school and dozens of miners' cottages. A railway spur line was built that connected with the Sydney & Louisburg line. Unfortunately the mining company went bankrupt in 1907 and most of the town was eventually abandoned.

In the early spring of 1916, with war raging in Europe, new life was injected into the town for a short time when the 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders) was raised and began their training in Broughton. They carried out repairs and occupied the old buildings. Their occupation of Broughton became known locally as the "Friendly Invasion". The invasion ended when the 185th Battalion left Broughton at the end of May, 1916, and proceeded to Aldershot, NS and then overseas.

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185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders) in Formation

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

The 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders) is formed up on Broughton Square in front of the Crown Hotel. The regimental band is on the far left. Note the various other buildings in the background. The smaller structure to the left of the hotel is the battalion canteen.

Route March

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

Men of the battalion enter Broughton Square after a route march. The regimental band is in the centre of the photo. Note the column of soldiers snaking up the hill. The large building on the right is the Crown Hotel. The smaller structure is the battalion canteen.

Pause During Route March

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

Senior Officers During a Route March

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

On the left is the commanding officer of the 185th Battalion, Lt-Col. Frank Parker Day. On the right with the binoculars is the adjutant, Capt. Roderick Colin Jackson. Note the men taking a break in the background.

Officers Pose for a Photograph

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa, Early 1916

Officers pose for a photo in front of the side entrance to the General Mining Office. Note the photographer readying his camera. Also note some of the architectural features of the building that can be seen in this photo including the exterior corner wing wall on the left, and the rounded corner on the right.

Officers Pose for a Photograph

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

As per the previous photo, this is another shot of the officers in front of the side entrance to the General Mining Office. This doesn't look like the official photo but was probably taken by the same person that took the previous photo. The Broughton Arms Hotel was reputed to have one of the very first sets of revolving doors. The General Mining Office also had a set of revolving doors as evidenced in this photo which clearly shows a revolving door behind the men. This photo also clearly shows one of the exterior corner wing walls which was an architectural feature of this building.

Senior Officers at a Desk

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

This photo was taken inside the General Mining Office which served as the battalion headquarters. Seated at his desk is the commanding officer of the 185th Battalion, Lt-Col. Frank Parker Day. Standing next to him is the battalion adjutant, Capt. Roderick Colin Jackson.

Lieut. Harry Henry on Horseback

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

In the background is the front entrance to the General Mining Office. The entrance faced Loon Lake. Note the rounded corner visible on the far left which was a feature of this building.

Harry Henry was born in Halifax, NS on January 14, 1894. He was studying law when he enlisted in the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) in September, 1915. He quickly advanced through the ranks and obtained a commission as an officer. In February, 1916, with the rank of lieutenant, Harry joined the 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders) in Broughton. He was with 185th Battalion when they relocated to Aldershot, NS, in the late spring of 1916. In August of that year he was transferred to the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion and went overseas with them. On September 26, 1917, while seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, Harry was an observing officer on a plane that crashed in France. He received a severe scalp wound and a concussion that restricted his duties for the rest of the war. He was in Halifax, NS during the Halifax Explosion on December 6, 1917, and despite being on restricted duties, worked hard to aid survivors. Pushing himself, further aggravated his condition. Harry survived the war and was demobilised on March 3, 1919.

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

The Broughton Arms Hotel Burns

Broughton, NS

April 6, 1916

The Broughton Arms Hotel had been a modern, multi-storey hotel that had been abandoned with the rest of the mining town shortly after it was built, just after the turn of the century. In early 1916 the military took over the buildings and used them as a base of operations for recruiting and raising the 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders). On April 6, 1916, during repairs to the plumbing, the building accidentally caught fire and burned to the ground.

Officers and Their Family Members

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

Standing on the far left is Lt-Col. Frank Parker Day, the commanding officer. Next to him is Capt. Roderick Colin Jackson, the adjutant. Sitting in the centre with two dogs is Mrs. Mabel Killam Day. The dogs are Teddy and Masher.

Officers and Their Family Members

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

Standing on the far left is Lt-Col. Frank Parker Day, the commanding officer. Next to him is Capt. Roderick Colin Jackson, the adjutant. Sitting in the centre with two dogs is Mrs. Mabel Killam Day. The dogs are Teddy and Masher.

Sgt. Edgar William Moseley

185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders)

Broughton, NS

Circa Early 1916

Edgar was born in Loraine, Ohio and was a barrister living in Sydney, NS, when war broke out. On March 13, 1916, at the age of 42, and with no prior military experience, he enlisted with the 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders).